Overview

The first 100% backcountry technical ski mountaineering race in the United States. Taking place on the southern flanks of Kulshan (Mount Baker) in the North Cascades, the Kulshan Randonnée will be a race like nothing else out there. Teams of racers will tour together through the Mount Baker National Recreational Area. You’ll ascend up to the Park Butte Lookout, the Easton, and the Squak Glaciers then descend some of the best ski descents in the area to bring you back down.

Come race up a glaciated Cascade volcano and put the ski mountaineering back in skimo!

Detailed information for the course, skill and gear requirements, logistics, and more can be found in our Racer Manual.

course

This race is held on the traditional homelands of the Nuxwsa’7aq (Nooksack), the Lhaq'temish (Lummi), the Upper Skagit, the Sauk Suiattle, and Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka’pamux) tribes. Though each of the tribes had a slightly different name for what is now called Mount Baker, Kulshan is the most close approximation historians have landed on. Kulshan possibly meant “shooting place” where it was an important hunting ground or perhaps meant “where an arrow has struck”, indicating the ‘bleeding’ when the mountain would erupt. We encourage you to learn more about these tribes, their land, and their history, and pay proper respect as we travel through the ice, snow and trees.

For a 3D tour of the course, hit the Play button on the above map.

Interactive map can be found on Caltopo.

Full Course

10,000’ gain, 18 miles.

There is not another ski mountaineering race out there that will take you over a glacier covered active volcano. The course was designed by Cascade Mountain Ascents guides in conjunction with SnowGoat Skimo to showcase some of the best Pacific Northwest volcano skiing. This is Big Kid terrain with crossing two crevassed glaciers* and multiple ridges and valleys where a rescue would be very complicated. The competition is a graduate level race where teams should come prepared with ample big mountain experience skiing, navigating, and climbing to prepare themselves for the challenge.

*Safety Note: Teams will be required to rope up as a team for the ascent on the Squak Glacier. Teams can ski down unroped if they choose to. Potentially hazardous crevasse crossings might have fixed ropes teams can utilize. While this is a race, teams will be expected to lend aid or assistance if they find another team in a life threatening situation until rescuers arrive.

SnowGoat Skimo has partnered with Apex Rescue Solutions to provide rescue capabilities out on the course. While their professional guides and rescuers provides a greater level of safety out on the course, please remember to treat this ski tour like any other big mountain outing. It is incumbent on all teams to take all appropriate planning, preparation, and risk management strategies to ensure their own safety.

Recreational Course

5,000’ gain, 8 miles.

New for 2026, a shorter course option is available. Starting one hour after the main course, the recreational course will shadow the same first and second ascents, then ski back to the finish through the Salad Bowl CP. With limited glacier travel (only while skiing the lower Easton Glacier), teams will not be required to pass the Skills Check, but will be required to ski with a harness, tether, and locking carabiners rigged in case of a crevasse fall.

Skills assessment

Teams competing in the Full Course will be required to pass a Skills Stations at Check in Friday in Concrete.

1. Setup for glacial travel (proper knots, distance between skiers, extra rope secured, etc)

2. Simple crevasse rescue 3:1 haul system setup (anchor setup, transfer of load, 3:1 system creation)

3. Rope ascension (ascend rope fixed amount using prussiks/ascenders)

If a team fails a Skill Station, they will have one opportunity to re-test once everyone else has tested. If a team fails their re-test, they will not be allowed to race on Saturday and their entry fee is forfeited.

Schedule

Friday, May 16th (subject to change)
1200 | Racer and Volunteer Check In & Skill Stations Opens in Concrete, WA
1700 | Check In Closes, Dinner
1800 | Race Briefing

Saturday, May 17th (subject to change)
0700 | Morning Check In opens at Upper Lot
0800 | Full Course Race Start!
0900 | Recreational Course Race Start!
1230 | Intermediate Cutoff @ Easton Checkpoint
1430  |  Intermediate Cutoff @ Squak Checkpoint
1700 | Race Cutoff (9 hours)
1900 | After Party at The Hub (Concrete, WA)

Register

Full Course Team registration: $1,200 (Increases $300 March 1st)
Recreation Course Team registration: $600 (Increases $200 March 1st)

New for 2026, we are experimenting with non standard team sizes. This will allow teams to add additional members and if a member needs to back out, the team can still race. Registration costs will be considered by team, paid by the Team Captain, so the registration costs can be split among more members.
Full: minimum of 3, maximum of 4 racers
Rec: minimum of 2, maximum of 3 racers

Still, finding team members can be difficult. We hope interested racers will use our Free Agent team finder to help assemble the team of three. Post your information and ability and feel free to contact others on the form who seem like they might fit your team profile.

Categories will include Men, Women, and Coed in both distances.

Scholarship

We understand that not everyone is in a financial position to afford to race, and we also believe that there are more women, BIPOC & LGBTQ+ people who might enjoy being part of the skimo community but haven’t yet taken that first step of signing up to race.

SnowGoat is offering a scholarship entry to the Kulshan Randonnée ski mountaineering race for a team that might not otherwise have an opportunity to race - one team will be selected to receive a free entry and if needed, a skills training day with Cascade Mountain Ascents. Criteria to apply:

• Individuals from underrepresented communities who may face financial and/or other barriers to participation.

• Be prepared to meet the fitness requirements of the race.

• The application will ask for basic personal information and a brief statement on why you & your team wish to participate and are deserving to be selected.

Volunteer

A race of this magnitude will take an army of volunteers to help support these skimo racers. No matter whether you are a skier, splitboarder, or don’t ride at all, we have jobs that will be incredibly fun for you to help out with. Most critical is having a core group of mountain athletes that can help with the course marking on Thursday and Friday before the race!

Race Prep Party

March 12th - Black Diamond Flagship store (Seattle Fremont)

Are you interested in racing but are a bit tentative and have questions? Come to the new Black Diamond Flagship store in Seattle for a Kulshan Q&A! We will cover the technical requirements, fitness/training, and of course, gear. Any gear upgrades you might need you’ll be able to take advantage of a Black Diamond discount right there at the store.

Spectators

With the majority of the race taking place on a vast canvas of snow covered ridges, valleys, and glaciers, the event is not very spectator friendly.  The BEST way to spectate is by volunteering!  Our volunteers out on the course will have the best seats in the house to watch and support the teams as they pass through.  You also may even get an exciting snowmobile ride into position.

The mountain and course will be open to the public however so any spectators are allowed to travel anywhere they please.  If you did desire to travel out on the mountain and catch the race, the best place would be to travel to the Salad Bowl Check Point or the Finish Line. Any spectators on the course will not be sanctioned by the event and users will travel at their own risk.  There will be NO outside support given to a racer team by any spectator, with the exception of a safety emergency in which case the team involved will be removed from the race.